Govt halts sugar diversion to ethanol as prices hit record high

Government directed oil marketing companies to cut sugar diversion for ethanol production to zero in 2026-27, excluding ethanol made from ​sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and B-heavy molasses from their latest tender, Reuters reported. The move aims to boost domestic sugar supplies and curb record-high prices. India mandated E20 petrol nationwide earlier this year to reduce pollution and oil imports.